Hello All
Let me tell you all about my Creative Battery adventure:
I have dropped my player and the corner is cracked and the player on plays on AC power and not Battery power. Warranty is null!
Now I'm trying to replace my VCZV:M Battery as my player and I have had no luck finding a vendor that sells batteries for my player.
I tried to get some support from creative and they have told me that I would have to send the player in and would get a referbished 'like new player' I asked if I could just buy a battery and they said that this is not posible as the battery is cast into the player!
So it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Do I buy a new player or paly about the samt amount for a like new player?

I guess I'm just a tad upset about damaging my player and the cost of repair/replacement!

I'd be curious to hear your view and expereince. Why should I do?

Here is my correspondence with Creative euro Support:
(this is all back wards and names and numbers have been hidden)

Dear Pollmak,

The price is £99.88 + you will have to pay the postage when you send the
player back to us.
The VAT and postage cost back to you is included in the price £99.88.
This is about 1/2 the price you will have to pay for a new Vision:M.

Please retain all the previous correspondence when replying to this
email.

Do I purchase a new iRiver H10 20 GB from Ebuyer for £125.00 all
inclusive +
delivery?
(A player which meet all my needs)

I'm disappointed with the lack of options provided to repair my player.
I can't help but feel like I'm beg ripped off. My player works fine on
AC
power, but does not work on Battery power and you are not being helpful
with
providing an cost effective solution.
How can you justify charging more that 50 % of the player value for a
simple battery swap?

Will all Creative Zen Vision: M users have to fork out £99.88. (incl
VAT
and Post & Packaging) to replace their batteries, when they do run dry?
Is this Creative Support Company policy?

Regards
Pollmak

On 22/08/06, CLE Customer Support <support@europe.creative.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Apollon,
>
> The Vision:m battery is built in. Since this happend after the player
> was dropped it's not likely that the problem is a faulty battery. I
> would think there is some damage to the charging circiut inside the
> player. We don't sell spare parts for these players. Our only option
is
> the replacement I told you about earlier.
>
> Please retain all the previous correspondence when replying to this
> email.
>
> Best Regards
>
> ###
> Creative Customer Support Services
> Creative Labs Europe
>
> Original Message Follows:
> ------------------------
> Hello Support
> Do you sell replacment batteries for the Creative Zen vision M? If not
> could
> you froward an site that does.
> Regards
> Pollmak

Dear Customer

Thanks for your e-mail.

As your Creative product is no longer covered by a hardware warranty, I
can offer you a repair/replacement:
Zen Vision:M 30GB at a charge of £99.88. (incl VAT and Post & Packaging)

This includes, labour, replacement/repair and operational costs. The
cost is subject to change until the order has been placed. Your product
will be replaced with a refurbished unit and is covered by a six month
warranty.

We can only accept Mastercard and Visa credit cards as form of payment.

If you accept the offer I can contact you by phone regarding the credit
card details, as these should not be sent via email due to security
reasons.

Please retain all the previous correspondence when replying to this
email.

My player only works with AC power (electricity). The Battery does not
charge or does not hold charge.

Please could you send me details of how I can get my player repaired as
soon
as posible.

Regards
Pollmak

On 09/08/06, CLE Customer Support <support@europe.creative.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Pollmak
>
> Thank you for emailing to Creative Technical Support.
>
> With regards to your issue
> As the player was dropped , Im afraid your warranty would be voided.
> However we can assist you with an out of warranty replacement. If this
> is ok to you, kindly provide these
> details for me -
> exact product name:
> capacity:
> Colour:
> purchase date:
> serial number:
> Daytime delivery address:
> contact number:
> Brief description of the problem:
>
>
> ** Cost of the replacement would be made known to you once the
> above information is provided **
>
> In case if you need any clarification, please do not hesitate to
contact
> us.
>
> Please retain all the previous correspondence when replying to this
> email.
> Best Regards
> Roger
> Creative Customer Support Services
> Creative Labs Europe
>
> To provide feedback on your "Creative Experience" and our service
please
> click on the following link:
>
> http://www.creativehelp.com*/support...sp?r*=CLE&d=TS
>
> Please note that technical queries submitted through this link won't
be
> answered.
>
> Original Message Follows:
> ------------------------
> Hello Customer Support
> I have tried to do all the things that you have suggested, but my Zen
> Vision
> : M player is not working on Battery power. The player is not holding
> charge.
>
> If I plug in the AC power supply the player works fine. I can ever
sync
> and
> access the file system of the player, delete, move files est...
> This is definitely some sort of charge/battery problem.
>
> Please could your advice what step I need to take to have my player
> serviced/repaired. Should I contact the UK support number? My player
was
> bought on 10 March 2006 from Amazon and is with in the 1 year warranty
> that
> comes with the player. (I have receipts if needed and original
> packaging)
>
> Thanks for your help
> Regards
> Pollmak
>
>
> On 02/08/06, CLE Customer Support <support@europe.creative.com wrote:
>
>
> Dear Customer,
>
> To help address your inquiry as quickly as possible, we are sending
you
> this automated express reply that includes the steps you should take
to
> restore full functionality of your Zen player.
>
> Things to Try if your Zen Player is not Detected/Recognised by your
PC:
> If your Zen Player is functioning correctly but is not recognised by
> your PC, please click on the following link, which will guide you
> through the necessary installation process:
> http://uk.europe.creative.com*/suppo...l=3*&sid=19287
>
> Things to Try if you think your Zen Player is Faulty:
> Several factors can cause a portable MP3 player to cease to function
> correctly. Fortunately, most technical difficulties can be resolved
> easily with little down time.
> Please click on the following link, where you will find a simple
> step-by-step guide to resolving the difficulty you are currently
> experiencing with your player:
> http://uk.europe.creative.com*/suppo...?l=3*&sid=4763
>
> If these steps fail to resolve the problem then please reply to this
> automated email describing the difficulty you are experiencing and the
> trouble-shooting steps you have taken. A Technical Support advisor
will
> then contact you to assist you further.
>
>
> Best Regards
>
> Creative Customer Support Services
> Creative Labs Europe
>
> Creative Care Protection Plan Now Available for Zen Product Family!
> Your can protect your investment by extending the warranty coverage of
> your Zen Micro to a full 2 years.
> To learn more, please visit:
> http://uk.europe.creative.com*/shop/...category=102*&
>
>
>
>
> Original Message Follows:
> ------------------------
> =======================
>
> Subject: CLE - Technical Support Request
> Name: #######
> E-mail Address: #####
> Self Description: Advanced PC User
> Country: United Kingdom
> ------------------
> Support Inquiry: ID(3) My Creative hardware stopped functioning
> correctly
> Product: Zen Vision:M
> Purchase Date: 10/3/2006
> Serial Number:
> ------------------
> Operating System: Windows XP
> Creative Model Number: DVP-HD0003
> Computer Brand/Model: dell latitue 8600
> Processor/CPU: Inter cetrino 1.8 GHz
> Memory: 1 Gb
> BIOS Type/Revision: a08 (?)
> System Board/Chipset: ?
> ------------------
>
> Detailed Problem Description:
> Hello Creative Support
> I have dropped my Creative Zen Vision m: and it
> only works when I have the AC power supply plugged
> in. All function, i.e. imaged, video and sound
> work fine on AC power.
> The crack is only cosmetic damage.
> But... The player does not function on Battery power.
> The Battery Icon on the top right of the screen
> shows a battery with a plug symbol in the battery.
> I looked this up and that icon means that the
> battery is full. The Icon also seems to alternate
> with the low power icon that also displays
> especially as I pull out the AC power cord. The
> low battery alert screen appears and then the
> player switches off.
> I have tried a reset but this does not seem to
> change anything.
> I use my player for +/- 3 hours every day since I
> purchased it. Could the battery need replacing?
> Please could you advice. If you need images please
> let me know where to address these to.
>
> I do not want a refund, only a working player as I
> love my player and feel gutted with out a working
> Zen Vision's….I could not live with an Ipod….Ipod
> sucks.
>
> Regards
(Pollmak)
> =======================
>
>
>
>
>

i was reading stuff about the ZVM and i was reading this site where a guy completely dismantled his ZVM, gives you step by step, so you can put it back together, the batter isnt soldered in, it has a simple clip ill search around for that page for you

now you can just TELL you havent been on this site for very long:P, i dont blame you, i didnt know crap about mp3 players till i came here, but then again, i still dont know much....Also, you can remove the battery and such, you'l just have a hard time trying to find a site or a company that sells the battery only....like Paranoidandroid said, your best off getting either a new one of waitng till the 60gb comes out...

yea..."nonremoveable" generally means..."you have to take more invasive methods to remove it, but it can be done"...if they wont replace it, then tear it apart...you can usually buy busted models on ebay to get a new battery (like a model with a busted screen for example)...most people wouldnt do this because of the warranty, but hell, yours isnt under warranty anymore! lol...i've done this with a Dell DJ that needed a replacement hard-drive...it just means that you gotta work a little harder than replacing a cell phone battery or something like that...but it's not truly "non-removeable"!

1.Buy a damaged CZVM and use the battery
2.Buy a newer player
3.If I buy a newer player I can use my existing on as a permanant AV player plugged into my amp and TV, that can house all my media. (Player works fine on AC power.)

After some thought: I kind of like the idea of finding/trying another player as I do enjoy the expereince of new technology and gadgets. You know boys must have their toys...

The primary use of CZVM was to listen to music/audio, and in retrospec I should of purchased cheaper a player that does not have great image/video functionality.

The battery is an SKC LPCS285385 nominal capacity 1250/1280. A one millimeter thicker battery ia available - LPCS385385 3.8mm X 53 X 85 Capacity 1650 1690. Look at the guide for taking the ZVM apart. If you replace the 1.5 mm blue foamy plastic backing the HDD (we used a BSE skin - really) then the 1mm thicker battery fits - just. To find out where to buy the replacement or different battery see below -

well this thread has been kinda forgotten about for a while.. while i was look for something for another thread, i found this link http://www.skc.co.kr/skhp/en/prod/bat/03.jsp
its got stuff about the batteries, might be where BigBlue got it from.. check it out

old thread but i thought i would share my little adventure... up to the point where i am at least.

i've had my ZV:M about a year (got it last june) and on a really bad day last month it fell off my belt clip and into the loo. i fished it out and let it dry, it didn't work at all until just recently. but it only worked on AC power. so since my mum had bought one we decided to see for sure if it was actually the battery... so we switched them and voila. the battery on mine had shorted... so now i'm getting grumpy because i cannae find any info on replacing it... hoohary and all that... so that is where i am...